Apparatus for cleaning tanks



Sept. 18, 1951 w. H. BELL 2,568,314

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS Filed July 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Shee l IN VEN TOR.

` WALTER H. BELL Rf-ww ATTORNEY Sept. 18, 1951 w. H. BELL 2,568,314

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS Filed July 2s, 1947 2 sheets-shea 2 WALTER H. BELL n-TQM ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning tanks, and more particularly to a machine for use in the interior of tanks of rthe character used on shipboard and elsewhere for the transportation and storage of oil, for the removal of oil, rust and other interior coatings and sludge, and for freeingthe tanks of gas therein.

Various expedients have heretofore been proposed for cleaning tanks of the character aforesaid, but none of these have proven wholly satisfactory.

In accordance with the present invention, a tank cleaner is provided in which a plurality of jets of water are projected outwardly within the interior of the tank for cleaning, washing and the removal of gas therein.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specificati-on and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily Vunderstood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tank cleaner in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, enlarged, showing certain of the interior details, parts being broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, a vertical tube I is provided which serves as a support, as hereinafter explained, and which is adapted to be connected in any preferred manner to a source of water, hot or cold as desired, and under pressure. The tube I0 is provided with a radially disposed bearing and supporting flange II which is secured thereto in any desired manner.

The tube I0 is in communication with the interior of a casing I2. The casing I2 is preferably made in a plurality of separable sections, such as an upper dome shaped section I3, a central cylindrical section I4, and la lower semi-spherical section I5. The upper casing section I3 is preferably provided with a flange I6 at the inner end of which a groove I'I is provided for thereception of the upper end of the central casing section I4. V`The low-er casing section I5 is also preferably provided with a flange I9 and with a groove in which the lower end of the central casing section I4 is adapted to be received. The joints between the casing sections I3 and I4 and between the casing sections I4 and I5 are preferably of a character to prevent fluid leakage at these locations.

Stay bolts 2 I, extending through the flanges I 6 and I9, are provided for holding the casing sections I3, I4 and I5 in assembled relationship, and permit of access to the interior of the casing I2, if desired.

At the upper end of the upper casing section I3, a cylindrical neck portion 24 is provided having at the upper end thereof an outwardly ex'- tending portion 25 provided at the periphery 'thereof with a cylindrical upwardly extending rim 26 from which a horizontally disposed connecting flange 21 extends. A bearing plate 28 is also provided and is adapted to be secured by bolts 29 to the flange 21 in fluid tight relationship. A sealing gland 30 is provided on the upper part of the bearing plate 28. A packing compressing ring 3l is mounted on the gland 3l] and in engagement with a suitable ring packing 32 interposed between the ring 3| and the gland 3U.

The engagement of the ring packing 32 with the exterior of the tube I0 upon adjustment of the ring 3| prevents fluid leakage past the packing ring 3| in either direction.

A thrust bearing is mounted within the rim 26 between the bearing end plate 28 and the flange 21 on the pipe IU for supporting the casing I2 and the structure carried thereby and permitting rotation of the casing I2 with respect to the pipe I0.

Within the upper portion of the casing I2 and surrounding the tube I 0, a box 4U is provided. The box 40 preferably has a securing rim 4I at the upper end thereof for removably securing the box 4IJ to the casing I2 in fluid tight relationship,

bolts 44 being utilized for this purpose. At the lower end of the box 4U, a packing gland 31 and packing compressing ring I2 are provided, suitable ring packing 43 being interposed between the ring t2 and the gland 31 and in engagement with the tube I for preventing iiuid leakage past the packing 43.

On one side wall of the box an impeller wheel chamber is provided. In one side wall of the chamber 45 a iiuid inlet nozzle l5 is provided in communication with the interior of the casing I2 and with the interior of the chamber 25. Another side wall of the chamber t5 has a uid discharge conduit 41 extending therethrough and through the exterior wall of the casing I2 for fluid discharge, as hereinafter explained.

Within the impeller wheel chamber` 45 an impeller wheel [I8 is mounted carried on a shaft 4S for actuation by fluid delivered through the nozzle 46 and discharged through the conduit 41. A packing gland 50 is provided for preventing fluid leakage into the interior of the box 50.

Within the interior of the box lli) a pinion is provided on the shaft 55 and is in engagement with a gear 56 mounted at one end of a shaft 51, the other end of the shaft 51 having a worm 58 thereon for engagement by a pinion 59 carried on one end of a shaft 60. The shaft 5t] has a worm 6I carried thereon with which a pinion 62 carried on a shaft 63 is in engagement, the shaft 63 also having a worm 64 thereon for engagement with a gear 65 welded or otherwise secured to the exterior of the tube I0. The shafts @9, 51, GS and 63 may be supported by suitable bearings 6B. The tube I0 being held against rotation, the casing I2 is thus rotated upon rotation of the impeller wheel 48 on the shaft 49.

'Ihe upper casing section I3 has, in the wall thereof, a plurality of uid discharge nozzles 1I1 in communication with the interior of the casing I2, the nozzles 1I) being disposed at different angles above the horizontal for discharging washing and cleaning fluid in jets.

The central casing section It also has, in the wall thereof, a plurality of fluid discharge nozzles 1I in communication with the interior of the casing I2, the nozzles 'ii preferably being disposed at different levels, for discharging washing and cleaning fluid in jets. The discharge conduit 41 preferably also extends through the wall of the casing section I4.

The lower casing section I5 also has, in the wall thereof, a plurality of fluid discharge nozzles 12 in communication with the interior of the casing I2, the nozzles 12 preferably being disposed at different levels below the horizontal for discharging washing and cleaning iluid in jets.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

Water under pressure from the ships pumps or from any other suitable source of pressure, and hot or cold as desired, is supplied to the tube I0. The tube I and the casing I2 carried thereby are lowered about one-third of the way down into the tank to be cleaned. Water under pressure delivered through the tube {E} to the interior of the casing I2 is supplied through the fluid inlet nozzle G6 for effecting rotation of the impeller wheel 48. The water from the impeller wheel IIS is discharged through the fluid discharge conduit 41 toward the tank walls.

Rotation of the impeller wheel it is effective, through the shaft 4S and the gear train against an abutment provided by the gear 55 on the tube Iii. The tube I8, being held against rotation, the casing I2 is caused to be rotated, the thrust bearing 35 permitting this movement.

Fluid is discharged from the interior of the casing through the nozzles 10, 1I and 12 in a plurality of jets at different angles. The jets of water from the nozzles 10, 1I and 12 strike the walls of the tank and loosen and remove the oil and rust which is thus delivered to the bottom of the tank for removal. After the casing I2 has been rotated in this manner for about twenty to thirty minutes, it is then lowered to a location about half way down the tank and rotated for about the same period of time with the cleaning jets of liquid delivered from the nozzles 1t, 1I and 12. The pipe I0 and the casing I2 carried thereby are then lowered to about twothirds of the way down in the tank and again operated with liquid jets discharged from the nozzles 15, 1I and 12 until the cleaning of the tank is completed. The discharge of the water in a plurality of rotating jets directed against the sides of the tank at various angles also tends to remove gases in the tank. The nozzles in the lower casing section I5v also act to keep the water in the lower part of the tank being cleaned in an agitated condition, thereby further aiding in the cleaning.

I claim:

1. Tank cleaning apparatus comprising a fluid delivery tube adapted to be lowered in a tank. a hoiiow casing having an interior chamber with which the lower end of said tube is in communication, members for rotatably supporting said casing on the lower end of said tube, said casing having a plurality of xedly mounted nozzles extending from the interior chamber and through the wall thereof for simultaneous discharge of' a plurality of jets of uid, a closed compartment in said interior chamber and having a fluid inlet in communication with said interior chamber and a fluid discharge passageway extending through the wall of said casing, a fluid actuated motor in said compartment interposed between said inlet and discharge passageway, and driving connections between said motor and said tube including a ring gear fixed on said tube and a gear driven by said motor in engagement therewith for eecting rotation of said casing with respect to said tube.

2. Tank cleaning apparatus comprising a fluid delivery tube adapted to be lowered into a tank, a hollow casing having an interior chamber with which the lower end of said tube is in communication, members for rotatably supporting said casing on the lower end of the said tube, said casing having a plurality of xedly mounted nozzles extending from the interior chamber through the wall thereof for simultaneous discharge of a plurality of jets of uid, a uid-tight compartment in said casing, a second compart ment carried by said flrst compartment, said seccond compartment having a fluid inlet in communication with said interior chamber and a iiuid discharge passageway in communication with the exterior of said casing, a iuid actuated motor in said second compartment and interposed between said fluid inlet and said iluid. discharge passageway, and power transmitting means in said first compartment connecting said motor and said tube including a ring gear xedly mounted on said tube and a gear driven by said motor in engagement therewith for effecting rotation of said casing with respect to said tube.

3. Tank cleaning apparatus comprising a tubular fluid delivery member adapted to be lowered into a tank, a hollow casing member having an interior chamber with which the lower end of said tubular member is in communication, members for rotatably supporting said casing on the lower end of said tubular member, said casing having a plurality of xedly mounted nozzles extending from said chamber through the wall thereof for simultaneous discharge of a plurality of jets of iiuid, an enclosure xedly mounted with respect to said casing and spaced above the terminus of said tubular member and surrounding a portion of the lower end of said tubular member, a iiuid motor in said enclosure, a connection from said interior chamber for supplying fluid for actuating said huid motor and a connection to the exterior of said casing for the discharge of the motor actuating fluid, and transmission members in said enclosure including an engageable abutment member on said tubular member and a member in engagement therewith and operated by said motor for effecting rotation of said casing with respect to said tube.

4. Tank cleaning apparatus comprising a tubular uid delivery member adapted to be lowered into a tank, a hollow casing member enclosing the lower end of said tubular member and having an interior chamber with which the lower end of the tubular member is in communication, members for rotatably supporting said casing on the lower end of said tubular member, said casing having a plurality of fixedly mounted nozzles extending from said interior chamber through the wall thereof for simultaneous discharge of a plurality of jets of fluid, an enclosure in said interior chamber xedly mounted with respect to said casing and disposed above the lower end of said tubular member, members for preventing fluid leakage into the interior of said enclosure, a fluid motor in said enclosure, a fluid connection from said interior chamber for supplying fluid for actuating said uid motor and a fluid connection to the exterior of said casing for the discharge of the motor actuating fluid, a ring gear in said enclosure xedly mounted on said tubular member, and a member operated by said motor and in engagement with said ring gear for effecting rotation of said casing with respect to said tube.

5. Tank cleaning apparatus comprising a tubular iiuid delivery member adapted to be loW- ered into a tank, a hollow sectional casing member enclosing the lower end of said tubular member and having an interior chamber, members for rotatably supporting said casing member with respect to the lower end of said tubular member. said casing member including a lower section having a plurality of xedly mounted fluid discharge nozzles extending downwardly through the wall thereof and an upper section, a fluid motor in said upper section, a fluid connection from said interior chamber for supplying uid for actuating said fluid motor, a fluid connection for the discharge of the motor actuating uid, a ring gear xedly mounted on said tubular member in said upper section, and driving connections in said upper section between said motor and said ring gear for rotating said casing member with respect to said tubular member.

WALTER H. BELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,846 Judge Mar. 1, 1898 610,926 Suetterle Sept. 20, 1898 1,593,500 Mantell July 20, 1926 1,999,470 Munz Apr. 30, 1935 2,239,198 Ostling Apr. 22 19111 

